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Asylum seeker who fraudulently claimed €88k in Social Welfare is jailed
Summary
Mercie Wambui, 32, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with 15 months suspended for fraudulently claiming €88,877 in Social Welfare payments between August 2010 and September 2016. She had arrived in Ireland from Kenya in 2006 as an asylum seeker and was only entitled to a Direct Provision weekly payment of €19, later rising to €28, and to a One Parent Allowance after her son's birth in 2011. In 2008 she obtained false identity papers and secured a job with the Daughters of the Cross, earning €650 a week, which she did not declare. She also claimed maternity benefit for six months under the false name. Wambui pleaded guilty, admitted financial pressure, and has already paid €7,000 to the State and is repaying €25 per week. The judge acknowledged her remorse, low re‑offending risk, nursing work history, and role as a mother, and back‑dated the sentence to 29 December 2017.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Asylum seeker who fraudulently claimed €88k in Social Welfare is jailed. Charges or matters: sample counts of fraud amounting to €88,877 on dates between August 2010 and September 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2010 Other
- September 2016 Other
- September 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2011 Other
- June 2012 Other
- June 2016 Other
- July 2016 Incident
- December 29, 2017 Other
- 2018-02-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sample counts of fraud amounting to €88,877 on dates between August 2010 and September 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the "grave and difficult circumstances" of Wambui's background and the fact that three of her sisters and her father had died since her arrival in Ireland. The judge suspended the final 15 months of the sentence, taking into consideration Wambui's remorse, her low risk of re-offending, her excellent work history in the field of nursing and the fact that she was a good mother and carer to her son.
Convicted Person
Charges: sample counts of fraud amounting to €88,877 on dates between August 2010 and September 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Social Welfare payments has been sentenced to two years in prison with 15 months suspended.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Brackenwood Avenue
- Balbriggan
- Dublin
Topics
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